Combined lock and latch.



PATFNTED MAR. 24, 1903.

J. FISH. COMBINED LOGK'AND LATCH.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 11 1901.

NO MODEL.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN FISH, OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA.

COMBINED LOCK AND LATCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 723,376, dated March 24, 1903.

Application filed September 11, 1901. Serial lilo. 75,017; (No model.)

To all whom it may con/067177;:

Be it known that I, JOHNFISH, a'citi zen of the United States, residing at South Bend, in the county of St. Joseph and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in a Combined Lock and Latch; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it 'appertains to make and use the same.v

My invention relates to a combined lock and latch; and its object is to provide one which completely avoids the useof springs and obviates the employment of parts which readily become clogged and broken by undue strains and which when used as a latch will be free and unhampered by the elements composing the lock.

For a full understanding of the merits and advantages of my invention reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings and the following description.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view in elevation of the inner face of the lock-case and the parts contained therein, the gravity-plate and the bolt beingheld in their locked position. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the parts shown in Fig. l with the locking-slide released from the gravity-plate and showingin dotted lines the position the latter would as sume when the bolt is withdrawn from the keeper. Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line w a; of Fig. 1, showinga plan view of the locking mechanism. Fig. 4 is a side and end view of the locking-slide, showing the tumblers in dotted lines. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the locking-slide. Fig. 6 is an edge and side view of the gravity-tumblers.

Referring to the drawings, Figs. 1 and 2, A designates the casing for the lock, which is of the usual construction and adapted to be mortised Within adoor. The lock is provided with the usual keyholeB and the socket for the knob-spindle O, the latter of which is provided with the depending horizontal arms c, which engage the cam-grooves c in the gravity-plate a. This gravity-plate a is provided at one corner with a round lug a, which serves as a pivot for the plate, said lug being journaled in a socket formed in the block a which is suitably mounted in one corner by 'means of tlle ofthe casing. The lower end of the plate is provided with a depending arm a which engages the opening in the bolt b. The said bolt bis bifurcated and provided with a transverse abutment 1), against which the arm 0. contacts when the plate is drawn backwardly and upwardly to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 This movement is effected turning of the knob-spindle, which likewise turns the socketO, and with it the arms 0, the ends of the arms engaging the cain slot c. The casingisprovided near one corner with the keeper-plates 0 0 which are slot-ted to receive the ends ofa locking-slide d. The locking-slide d is formed with exten'ded ends at its base, which fit within the slot of the keepers c and its upper portion is narrower than the distance between the keepers, so that it will have a free longitudinal play between the same, but be limited in its movement by the edges of the upper vertical portion contacting with the sides of the keepers. Upon each side of the base of the locking-slide are formed the notched or recessed extensions (1, which do not extend the entire length of the slide; but provideacentral recess (1 to allow free movement of the keyguard therein, and the top of the slide is provided with a lug 01 which engages the notch (1 formed in the gravityplate, when the plate is in a locked position, as shown in Fig. 1, but which may be released from the said notch when the plate is unlocked and operating as a latch. Mounted upon each side of the lo'cking-slideare the tumblers e, each of which is provided with the projection e at its lower end, and which projections fit within the notches d of the slide and hold the said slide in a locked or unlocked position. The tumblers are restrained from longitudinal movement by means of the keepers 0 but are free to move vertically, as they do not extend to the full height of the lockingslide or to the lug 01 which projects laterally from the locking-slide and limits the upward movement of the tumblers It will be apparent that a single or a multiplicity of tumblers may be employed without departing from the mode of operation, it only necessitating a key of different construction for a multiplicity of tumblers, whereas when a single tumbler is employed the guard of the key would have only one nib or projection. When thekey is inserted and turned in the casing to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, the guard of the key will first pass within the recess 61 and contact with the lower edge of the tumblers, which will lift the latter and disengage the projections e from the notches (1, when upon further rotation of the key the same will engage the edge of the notched portion (1? and throw the locking-slide longitudinally to the position shown in Fig. 2. The lug d is now disengaged from the notch d of the gravity-plate, and the plate is free to be operated as a latch by means of the knob-spindle and the arms 0, the lower arm a engaging with the bolt 1) and sliding it rearwardly to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. When the operator releases the knob, the plate a will drop by gravity and push the bolt outwardly into its keeper. A reverse rotation of the key will disengage the tumblers from the notched portion d and throw the lock forwardlyin engagement. with the gravity-plate to hold the parts in a locked position.

It will be apparent that this construction obviates the necessity of springs, which so often break and render the lock inoperative, and also of a complicated mechanism or arrangement of parts which are likely to get out of order or become clogged by undue strains and careless use.

Having thus described myinvention, hat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A combined lock and latch comprising a casing having a socket therein, a gravityplate havinga lug mounted in the socket and a depending arm, a bolt engaged by said arm cam-slots in the plate to be engaged by the arms of a knob-spindle, and a notch formed in the lower corner of the plate, combined with a longitudinally-movable locking-slide provided with notched lateral extensions at its face and a lug at its top tov engage the notch in the plate, keepers on the casing in which the slide is mounted, vertically-moving tumblers mounted between the keepers and supported by the lateral extensions on the slide, and depending lugs on the tumblers to engage the notches in the lateral extensions on the slide.

2. In a combined lock and latch, the combination with a pendulous bolt-controlling plate having a notch formed therein and adapted to control the movement of the bolt when operating as a latch, of a locking means comprising a locking-slide provided with notched extensions at its base, and a lug at its top, said slide movable longitudinally to be engaged and disengaged from the notch in the pendulous plate, verticallymoving tumblers provided with depending lugs to normally engage the notches in the slide and hold the slide in a locked or unlocked position, and keepers arranged within the casing of the lock to limit the movement of the locking-slide and hold the tumblers in position, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN FISH.

Witnesses:

GEORGE OLTscH, HUGO OLTSOH. 

